‘Invest Surrey’ Strategy launches at annual State of the City Address

Today, Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner held the 3rd annual State of the City address at the Sheraton Guildford Hotel. This year the focus of the event was on economic growth and the transformation of the city, as it evolves into Metro Vancouver’s 2nd designated metropolitan centre. As part of the address, the city launched the Invest Surrey initiative, a 10-year economic strategy outlining how the city is positioning itself to attract investment and develop into a robust, diverse, and innovative economic engine within the region.

As part of the address, the Mayor spoke on the rapid change that has been happening in Surrey City Centre over the past few years, and the anticipated acceleration of that growth over the next decade. Five investment themes were identified for the future of the city which include:

Entertainment/Lifestyle,

Digital and Information, Communications Technology,

Smart Cities,

Transportation & Logistics, and

Research & Development/Innovation

Over the next 10 years, Surrey City Centre is to increasingly become a centre for major employment, services, higher-density housing, commercial, cultural, entertainment and institutional activities, connected to the rest of the region by SkyTrain, LRT, and Frequent Transit Network routes. City Centre will be home to a diverse population, including new immigrants & established residents, young professionals, families & children, youth, and seniors.

The Mayor highlighted a ‘NEXUS’ program for streamlining transformative development within the City Centre. A number of ‘transformative’ projects were identified as already being part of the program, receiving fast-tracking through the approvals process. These include:

Lark Group’s Legion Veteran’s Village project at 106 Ave & City Parkway which will include Legion space, veterans and market housing, and a centre for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder research and treatment for veterans and first responders.

Concord Pacific’s already approved 42-storey Park Boulevard project. When complete it will be Canada’s first interactive illuminated residential tower, lighting up in sync with the arrival of SkyTrains at King George Station.

Anthem Properties’ 2 million sq.ft. City Centre development which is set to transform the current Save-on-Foods/Canadian Tire site at King George Blvd and 102 Ave. The project will bring a new mixed-use neighbourhood to the site, complete with 7 residential towers, commercial, and office space, retail shops, a restaurant row and vibrant urban green spaces.

Also highlighted were the emerging City Centre hubs for Education, Finance, Government, and Innovation. These include Innovation Boulevard, the University District, the Financial District, and the Government Hub:

Over the next 10 years, these hubs are expected to grow and form synergies between each other, transforming Surrey City Centre into a robust economic engine, and distinct metropolitan centre, attracting people and business from across the region.